Traffic control gate



Nov. 15, 1938. J. c. STAFFORD 2,137,193

TRAFFIC CONTROL GATE Filed April 5} 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 15, 1938. R-D 2,137,193

TRAFFIC CONTROL GATE Filed April 3, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet Patented Nov. 1938 v 'UNITED STATES TRAFFIC ai s! @F CE John Conrad steam-a; SteulienvilleQ Ohio- Application April .3, 1g sc, s, ;i 1 LNo. watts,

This invention relates to agate for-usein conif '4 I 1 I trolling street trafiic, such as the pas-sage of-motor vehicles and/or pedestrians in different gen- 7 eral directions at the intersection of two streets.

More particularly, the present invention con templates the provision of an improved mane .ually operable gate adapted to be mounted on a corner at the intersection of two streets for controlling traffic along such streets at such intersection, whereby to minimize accidentsdue to conflicting traffic, etc. a v

The present invention consists in. the novel construction and in the novel. combination and arragement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in and claimed.

In the drawings: q

Figure 1 is a plan view showing a traffic control gate operatively arranged at the intersection of two streets and constructed in accordance with the presentinvention. V a

Figure 2 is an elevational view thereof.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view thereof. v

H Figure 4 is an enlarged transverse section on line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 2 illustrating a pole temporarily used as a barrier for the gate when the slight slat-like barrier members of the gate have been accidentally broken ofi; and.

Figure 6 is a section on line 66 of Figure 3. Referring in detail to the drawings, the present invention consists of an upright post or standard 5 adapted to be suitably rigidly mounted in a vertical position at a corner of the intersection of two streets 6 and 1, as illustrated 'in Figures 1, 2 and 5. The standard or post 5 maybe embedded in concrete as at 8, for this purpose, the concrete being placed in a suitable hole 9 formed in the ground as shown more clearly in Figure 2. The post or standard 5 projects a suitable distance above the ground, and fitted and revolubly journaled upon the upper end of this post or standard is a carrier member I in the form of a cap or socket formed at the top with a transverse horizontal troughshaped member II. The trough-shaped member ll projects beyond one side of the cap or socket portion of this carrier, and at the other end the sides of said trough-shaped member are provided with extensions in the form of ears I2 between which is pivoted a barrier support consisting of a central tubular socket l3 and spaced parallel socket portions l4 integral with, the

the accompanying drawings the .latter. The recesses offthe lfi are of. rectangular cross sec tion -asshown inFigures; for snug retaini'ngre- V ceptiomottheends of the respective ones of two slat-like members l which cooperate to form a Qbarrier capableof ;extending entirely across a V streetjwhen horizontally disposed either in the full lineortheZdOttedline positionof Figure 1. fThefslat likemembers l5 may'converge into contiguous relation at their outer free ends as shown 'in: Figure 1- where they may be secured The arrier support composed of socket porns 13 and His arranged with its socket portio n .l3 between theears I2 .ofcarrier It), being pivoted to the ears 12 of the latter near one end "of.saidfsocketportion. I3, as at It. .The pivot at .Ifilis horizontal 'and provides means, whereby the. barriensupportmay. be swung} relativeto the shown in Figures}! and 6, thus causing the car [rierIand the barrier support to turn as a unit without placing a strain, upon .the pivot '16 when the parts are disposed as in Figures land 6. S u'ch'tur' iI movement of the carrier and barf, rier suppo'rt. islofcourse about a vertical axis inflwhich the socket portionof the carrier [0 turns on the upper end of the upright or post 5. A suitable bearing maybe provided between the post 5 and thecarrier l0, particularly a thrust 2O carrier m about-ahorizontal axisin. a vertical' a plane, so that the barrier of the gate'may be "hearing as at [1. Also, suitable means may be provided for. securing the carrier on the upper end of the post such asset screws I8 projecting into anjannular groove [9 in the upper end portion of post or standard 5.

i-The socket portions I4 of the barrier support" f'may also have ears 20 which project from corresponding ends of said "socket portions l4 and pivotal1y ,engage the pivot pin at H5 at the outer "sides or ears I2, for greater strength and rigidity.

Also, the free ends of the ears I 2 of carrier 10 may be extended beyond the ears 2!] and rigidly connected by an arch member 2 I, for added strength. -Th emovement of the barrier supporttoward a horizontal position may be suitably adjustably limited by means of adjusting screws 22 threaded through the projecting end of trough portion or member I l of the carrier III for contact or engagement with the adjacent end of socket portion I3 of the barrier support. the screws 22, the swinging movement of the barrier support may be properly limited to a position wherein the barrier reaches a truly horizontal position, even though said barrier may sag slightly at its outer end or even though post 5 may yield or bend slightlycunder the weight of the barrier. This same result can of course be obtained by providing the adjusting screws 22 inth'e -i,

arch-like connection 2| between the ears of carrier III, in which case the screws will engage the socket portion l3 at theopposite; end and at shank 24 fitted and secured in the adjacent end of said socket portion l3 as shownclearly in Figure 6.

' In operation, the gate is erected on a corner of the intersection: of the two streets 6 and I, preferably as shown in Figure 1, "so as to not only control street vehicular traffic but also'pedestrian traific at the intersection. 'Whenthe barrier is arranged across the street 6 as shown by full lines in Figure 1, traffic may freely flow along street 'l. However, when it is desired to stop flowof'tra'ffic along the street I and permit the'flow of traflic along the street 6, the handle23 is manipulated to revolve the carrier! and-the barrier support I3, [4 about the axis defined by post '5. This results in horizontalswinging'oi the barrier from the full line position of Figure 1 tothe dotted line "position of that figure as indicated by the arrows.

While the gate has been shown as mounted so that the barrier will extend acro'ss the roadway and side walks of a street in either position of the barrier, it is obvious that a'shorter' barrier may be used and that the upright or post 5 may be arranged at the curb so thatthegate is adapted to merely control vehicular traflic along the respective roadways. Other ways of using the gate, in plurality,for the control of both vehicular and pedestrian trafiic, will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. f Due to reckless driving or the like,.the barrier composed of slat members I5 may become broken so as to temporarily render the gate unfit for use. In order to provide for temporarily repairing the gate in this emergency until it can be properly repaired at a time when trafi'lcis not heavy, and in order to permit the continued use ofthe gate when traffic is heavy, the socket portion I 3 is provided as a part of the barrier-support. By the provision of the socket portion I3, an ordinary bamboo pole may be readilyassociated with the barrier support for temporary use, merely by placing one end of the bamboo pole in said socket portion I3 as illustrated clearly in Figure 5 at 25. When use of the gate is not necessary or desired, the barrier may be swung to the dotted line vertical position of Figure 2 by swinging the barrier support relative to the carrier I0 about the pivot It. The socket portion l3 of the barrier support will engage the cap or socket member of carrier I0 when the barrier is swung to this vertical position, the barrier and its support being slightly overbalanced so as to remain in this position unless manually shifted back to horizontal position. Any suitable means may be provided to lock the barrier in its vertical inoperative position Obviously, by adjusting to prevent unauthorized tampering with the gate when not in use. Obviously, with the barrier vertically disposed it will not interfere with traflic along either street at the intersection, either vehicular or pedestrian trafiic.

From the foregoing description, it is believed that the construction and operation as well as the advantages of the present invention will be readily understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art. Minor changes in the details of construction illustrated and described are contemplated within the spirit and scope of the invention .as claimed.

What I claim as new is:

1. A gate for controlling traflic at the intersection of two streets or roadways, comprising an upright post, a carrier member journaled on the upper'end of said post for rotation about a vertical axis, a barrier support pivoted on said carrier for vertical swinging movement about a horizontal axis-and having spaced sockets, an elongated barrier comprising slat-like members having corresponding ends fitted in said-sockets of said barrier support, means for limiting the swinging movement of said barrier support to locate thebarrier either in a substantially horizontal operative or a substantially vertical inoperative position, and a handle for use'in manually rotating the carrier and barrier support about said vertical axis to selectively position said barrier' across either desired one of the intersecting streets or roadways. r

2. A gate for controlling traffic at the intersection of two streets or roadways, comprising an upright post, a carrier member journaled on the upper end of said post for rotation about a vertical axis, a barrier support pivoted on said carrier for vertical swinging movement about a horizontal axis having spaced side sockets and an intermediate socket, an elongated barrier comprising slat-like members having corresponding ends fitted in said side sockets of said barrier support, means for limiting the swinging movement of said barrier support to locate the barrier either in a substantially horizontal operative or a substantially vertical inoperative position, and a handle fitted in said intermediate socket for use in manually rotating the carrierand barrier support about said vertical axis to selectively position said barrier across either desired one of the intersecting streets or roadways, said carrier comprising a cap formed at the top with a transverse horizontal trough-shaped member, the intermediate socket of said barrier support being arranged to rest in said trough-shaped member when the barrier is' disposed in its horizontal operative position.

3. A gate for controlling traffic at theintersection of two streets or roadwaysgcomprising an upright post, a carrier member journaled on the upper end of said post for rotation about a vertical axis, a barrier support pivoted on said carrier for vertical swinging movement. about a horizontal axis, an elongated barrier carried by said barrier support, means for limiting the swinging 'movement of said barrier support to locate the barrier either in a substantially horizontal operative or a substantially vertical inoperative position, and a handle for use in manually rotating the carrier and barrier support about said vertical axis to selectively position said barrier acrosseither desired one of the intersecting streets or roadways, said carrier comprising a cap formed at the top with a transverse horizontal troughshaped member, said barrier support having a portion adapted to rest in said trough-shapcd member when the barrier is disposed in its horizontal operative position, the means for limiting vertical swinging movement of the barrier support including adjusting screws carried by said carrier and engageable with said barrier support so that the swinging movement of the latter may be adjustably limited. 4. In a gate for controlling trafiic at the intersection of two streets or roadways, a barrier support consisting of a central socket and spaced parallel side sockets integral with and disposed in handle having a shank fitted and secured in one end of said central socket.

JOHN CONRAD STAFFORD. 

